At the annual meeting
of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America held in
Pensacola, Fla., in March 1986, there was serious
discussion concerning the status, goals, and future
direction of our organization.
Unfortunately, the problems
which afflict most amateur sporting organizations
also afflict ours. The needs are enormous, but the
resources are limited. In order to set the stage for
discussion of the subject of this letter, I would
like to share some information concerning the AFTCA.
Much of this may not be new to you.
Historically, since the inception
of the AFTCA, our organization and its member clubs
have operated on shoestring budgets. The perpetuation
of our organization and the sport of field trialing
has come primarily from the unselfish generosity of
thousands of its members who have contributed money,
time, and effort. In addition, hundreds of landowners,
some of whom are involved in field trialing and most
of whom are not, have allowed us to conduct our events
on their property. In many and most instances, there
was little to be gained by allowing us to conduct
these events on their property. Conversely, their
livelihood, at times, has been put at risk, whether
it be from fire, inadvertent injury to crops, fences,
livestock, etc. To these individuals, we owe a debt
that can never be repaid.
Our past history is very
respectable. The AFTCA, which was founded in 1916,
is an incorporated organization with member clubs
and is governed by a set of bylaws, rules and regulations.
Representation is by a trustee from each region, of
which there are currently eighteen with the recent
addition of Hawaii. The officers are elected from
the Board of Trustees. The members of the Board of
Trustees are expected to be present at the annual
meeting held in conjunction with the National Amateur
Quail Championship. The Board of Trustees contributes
many hours in the resolution of problems as they occur
during the year. Many trustees are asked to travel
long distances to other trials, meetings, or hearings.
All of this is an effort to insure cleaner, better,
fairer and a more well-run sport. These activities
help insure an essential, strong, and fair governing
body. Participation as a trustee or an officer is
done without compensation. A debt of gratitude is
owed to all the trustees who have served our organization
so well over these many years.
The AFTCA has one salaried
employee, namely the secretary-treasurer, Miss Leslie
Anderson, who has faithfully served our organization
since 1956. Many of our noteworthy accomplishments
can be attributed to her excellent performance as
secretary-treasurer. Were it not for Miss Anderson,
our organization would hardly be where it is today.
When gratitude is expressed, Miss Anderson deserves
the highest. Not only has she served for so many years
at a salary far below that commensurate with her duties,
she has contributed her home, at minimal compensation,
to serve as the office of the Amateur Field Trial
Clubs of America. Miss Anderson, we cannot thank you
enough.
The AFTCA has numerous functions
besides serving as the governing body. Of these functions,
record keeping is one of the more important. A complete
set of records is kept on the recognized amateur
wins, as well as the sending of certificate of wins
to respective owners.
The enormity of this task
is exemplified by the fact that approximately 600
trials are conducted annually. Add to this task the
answering of numerous telephone calls received by
our Secretary each day.
The AFTCA conducts nine National
Championships on five different game birds including
the recently added National Amateur Chukar Championship.
Representation at these events is provided by our
Secretary and also Trustees when possible. These trials
are conducted in conjunction with member clubs throughout
the country. Attempts are made to change the venues
to different regions to allow for the broadest participation
of our members. Our deepest appreciation goes to the
clubs and its members who host such events.
Not to be forgotten are the
many judges selected for such events who contribute
their
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time, horses and keen
attention to the task.
As we reflect upon our past,
we can make objective, as well as subjective, evaluations
of our successes or failures. Each year at the annual
meeting of the AFTCA, the Board of Trustees is presented
with a financial report.
Our current status consists
of a limited amount of working capital held in a checking
account and, additionally approximately $40,000 invested
in certificates of deposit. Although the $40,000 is
respectable, it should be pointed out that it was
saved over a fifty-year period with no wild excesses
of spending, and it is the interest gained on this
money which allows us to remain in the black. Were
it not for the fact that the AFTCA operates on a very
thin budget, it would be unable to sustain itself.
There is no latitude for the AFTCA to accomplish many
of the tasks which lie before it.
Thus, at the March, 1986
annual meeting there arose a discussion concerning
our problem status. From this discussion was born
the concepts of the AFTCA TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND.
The concept was conceived and promoted by John O'Neall,
Jr., and after thorough discussion, received approval
by the Board of Trustees.
Basically, the AFTCA TWENTIETH
CENTURY FUND can be explained as follows:
Dr. A.G. Lurus
·The purpose of the
fund is to help the AFTCA strengthen itself financially.
Once this has been accomplished, we will be able to
do many of the things to embetter our organization.
We must do more than just survive. First off, we must
computerize the record-keeping of the AFTCA. This
will not only facilitate an streamline the operation
but will allow a hook-up with The American Field computer.
Computerization of our records will allow us to keep
a second set of records which could be stored safely
in a vault. It is unsafe to operate with a single
record stored in the Secretary's home. The research
on this project is currently under way.
·Secondly, it is obvious to everyone that the availability
of field trial grounds is rapidly diminishing. The
death of a few important people could devastate our
ability to run trials on first-class venues. In the
future, the AFTCA must be in a position to take advantage
of the opportunity, should it arise, to secure and/or
manage field trial grounds. This could be through
privately owned land or by assisting States in the
setting aside of grounds for this purpose. this would
be a gigantic undertaking, but there does not seem
to be any other way.
·Thirdly, the AFTCA must become active in stimulating
interest in bird dogs and field trials. Programs should
be created to develop interest in field trial s of
American Field Standards. Although we are not supportive
of shoot-to-kill trials, we must be more active in
promoting walking shooting dog stakes; otherwise,
we will see a continued growth of other organizations
at our expense. From the walking shooting dog owners
will come a few horseback field trialers. In any event,
we must represent and support both.
·Fourthly, we must be financially in a position to
act when an unusual opportunity presents itself, so
long as our actions are in the best interest of the
AFTCA and field trials.
This brings us to the method
of securing the monies for the TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND.
It was decided by the Board of Trustees that it should
be from individual donations, and to this end the
trustees themselves pledged $30,000 of a goal of $60,000
to be collected over five years. In retrospect, after
this response from the trustees, it appears we set
our sights too low. This does not mean that we need
to stop once we have reached our goal. We must, if
possible, far exceed our goal. The needs are too great
to do otherwise.
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The Board
of Trustees named Mr. Dwight Smith of Norwood, N.C.,
as chairman of the TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND. Mr. Smith's
role will be to oversee the fund-raising campaign,
create a prospective donors list, acknowledge donations
and pledges, make appearances before groups and transfer
money for investments. Assisting Dwight will be Mr.
Jack Fiveash of Pensacola, Fla., who will chair
the Twentieth Century Circle Committee. The primary
role of this committee will be to contact individuals
and companies on a one-on-one basis. Assisting Jack
in this effort will be Mr. Harry Townshend of New
Haven, Conn., and Mr. Pete Frierson of Jackson, Miss.
All trustees will have a role in canvassing their
regions for donations.
In order to benefit donors, I have
enlisted the help of Mr. John McNamera, an attorney,
of Santa Rosa, Cal. to file for tax exemption under
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code. The success
of this effort will be announced as soon as it becomes
known. The expectation is to have this completed during
the 1986 year.
Once the fund is created,
it must be safely protected. This fund represents
a solid investment in our future. To this end, the
Board of Trustees voted that the principal would not
be spent. The monies made available would be only
the interest earned on the investments and the
priorities for expenditure of the interest would be
determined by the Board of Trustees. An investment
committee consisting of John O'Neall, Jack Fiveash,
Harry Townshend, Stephen Walker and Pete Frierson
will assist Dwight Smith in the investment of the
funds. The current thought on investments is a safe
conservative approach such as U.S. Treasury Bonds,
but latitude will be granted to the committee. A detailed
business plan has been written and the Amateur Field
Trial Clubs of America can be assured that this fund
will be safeguarded prudently. The transfer of any
money will require the dual signatures of the President
and the Chairman of the fund. The decision to spend
money by the Board of Trustees will be measured deliberately
and carefully calculated for the most permanent impact.
A financial report will made available twice
a year to the full Board of Trustees.
Needless to say, times are
changing, and if our organization is to survive, it
must move with the times. As I was driving home from
the hospital last week, I witnessed most heart warming
sight. There, beside a bus stop sat the most elegant,
beautiful, well-groomed, yellow Labrador I have ever
seen. Beside the dog stood a gentleman his hand stroking
the dog's head. At a distance, I could sense a deep
bond between the man and the dog, and as I drew closer,
the circumstances became apparent. The dog was wearing
a seeing-eye-dog harness. The thought which crossed
my mind was if only this man could see how beautiful
his Labrador is, and if only his dog could understand
how important his eyes are to his master in the role
he is serving. It has often been said that the most
beautiful things in life are usually taken for granted.
The blind man lost one of the most beautiful things
in life and will never see again. Over the years,
little by little, bit by bit, the field trial fraternity
has lost beautiful field trial grounds on which to
conduct their sport. Like the blind man's eyesight,
the grounds can never be totally replaced, only substituted.
It is not too late, however. The blind man hasn't
stopped and neither should we.
What
does the next century hold for the AFTCA? Greatness,
I hope. The AFTCA must act now to protect its future
and the future of those who follow us.
Who is the AFTCA? You are.
Who can help? Only you can!
Ladies
and Gentlemen, please join with me and the Board
of Trustees in this investment in our future and
rededication to our sport. No donation is too small
and each will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you
so much, Merry Christmas to all.
Angelo G. Lurus,
M.D.
President, AFTCA
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